The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) due to the severity of his hearing impairment.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran seeks a higher rating but cannot meet the criteria for an increased rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD on December 22, 2020, and the effective date of this grant is set to December 22, 2020. The Veteran argues that he should have received this higher rating earlier.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his puretone thresholds do not reach the levels required by VA regulations.,The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at its maximum schedular level of 10 percent, and there are no additional factors that would warrant an increased rating under VA regulations. The Veteran's symptoms are fully contemplated in this rating.,The effective date for the grant of a 50 percent rating for PTSD was set to December 22, 2020, as it is within one year of the Veteran filing his intent to file a claim on that date. There is no evidence showing an earlier increase in severity of the disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2024
- Citation
- A24086676
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A24086676.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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